Performance Gain Stock Rockers to 1.5RR?

SSDiv6 · 10-31-2021, 04:24 PM

Many years ago, due to the pushrod tip going through the stamped rocker arm pushrod seat, I took a set of Oldsmobile rocker arms, laser welded a piece of 4130 Chrome Moly steel that had been cut and shaped to the contour of the rocker arm pushrod seat, and then had them solution heat treated. It was a matter of longevity than performance; the modified rocker arms were heavier than the OEM replacements by a lot.

The owner of the car approached Danny Gracia at a race, showed him the damaged rocker arms and what he was planning to use in lieu of the OEM replacement rocker arms. Of course, Danny immediately said they would be illegal and he could not use them. Then, some time later, Clark Holroyd comes up with the same concept and design for Chevy and Pontiac engines and were deemed legal to use by Danny.

It appears to be the case of who you are and who you know.

Frank Castros · 10-31-2021, 07:46 PM

Any cam duration, any valve spring, adjustable push rods, adjustable rockers , roller rockers and now solid lifters. The evolution of what we have today.

GTX JOHN · 10-31-2021, 09:18 PM

I had noticed that a couple times about Danny = More often years ago

I "think" he actually likes me now after 30 years.

I would have never got away with modifying the cast rockers.

We broke plenty of them on Mopars and a few on my Big Block Chev.

SSDiv6 · 11-01-2021, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

I had noticed that a couple times about Danny = More often years ago

I "think" he actually likes me now after 30 years.

I would have never got away with modifying the cast rockers.

We broke plenty of them on Mopars and a few on my Big Block Chev.

John,

I modified the rocker arms only to address a weakness on the OEM stamped rocker arms after the allowance of higher pressure springs and lifting the duration and overlap specs on the camshafts. They were not installed.

We asked permission to use them and were rejected.
My issue with Danny was the fact that later on, he approved the same exact modification from Clark Holroyd for BBC and Pontiacs.
No matter how it is addressed, Danny was always controversial in many of his decisions throughout the years.

GTX JOHN · 11-04-2021, 02:20 AM

i would like to elaborate with some stories = but I
better not!

10-31-2021, 04:24 PM	#1
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 3,047 Likes: 712 Liked 1,606 Times in 584 Posts	Re: Performance Gain Stock Rockers to 1.5RR? Many years ago, due to the pushrod tip going through the stamped rocker arm pushrod seat, I took a set of Oldsmobile rocker arms, laser welded a piece of 4130 Chrome Moly steel that had been cut and shaped to the contour of the rocker arm pushrod seat, and then had them solution heat treated. It was a matter of longevity than performance; the modified rocker arms were heavier than the OEM replacements by a lot. The owner of the car approached Danny Gracia at a race, showed him the damaged rocker arms and what he was planning to use in lieu of the OEM replacement rocker arms. Of course, Danny immediately said they would be illegal and he could not use them. Then, some time later, Clark Holroyd comes up with the same concept and design for Chevy and Pontiac engines and were deemed legal to use by Danny. It appears to be the case of who you are and who you know.

10-31-2021, 07:46 PM	#2
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 3,009 Likes: 2,689 Liked 2,765 Times in 978 Posts	Re: Performance Gain Stock Rockers to 1.5RR? Any cam duration, any valve spring, adjustable push rods, adjustable rockers , roller rockers and now solid lifters. The evolution of what we have today.

10-31-2021, 09:18 PM	#3
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,739 Likes: 2,824 Liked 2,493 Times in 700 Posts	Re: Performance Gain Stock Rockers to 1.5RR? I had noticed that a couple times about Danny = More often years ago I "think" he actually likes me now after 30 years. I would have never got away with modifying the cast rockers. We broke plenty of them on Mopars and a few on my Big Block Chev. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 10-31-2021 at 09:23 PM.

11-04-2021, 02:20 AM	#5
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,739 Likes: 2,824 Liked 2,493 Times in 700 Posts	Re: Performance Gain Stock Rockers to 1.5RR? i would like to elaborate with some stories = but I better not! __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock